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04/29/2003 Entry: "Death Penalty"
Yesterday, the Gutless Pacificist raised the subject of the death penalty, and the discussion continues here. I don't think I've ever mentioned the subject at connexions before, but regular readers (both of them!) won't be surprised that I'm not in favour of it. Let me briefly say why.
For the record, I don't base my opinion on "the sanctity of life". I'm convinced that there are worse things than dying, and it would be a strange Christian minister who thought otherwise. I'm against the death penalty first because I see no evidence that it is effective in reducing violent crime. It doesn't have a deterrent effect, and I'm sure I have seen evidence somewhere which suggests that murder actually rises appreciably after a well-publicised execution. It's only purpose is revenge, and revenge has no place in a Christian value-system.It might be more acceptable if the penalty were administered swiftly, but the practice of keeping people on death row for many years must surely constitute "cruel and unusual punishment".Yes, I know that the death penalty is laid down in the Old Testament for certain offences, and neither Jesus nor Paul addressed the issue directly. (Though there is, of course, the one incident when Jesus did intervene in what would have been a lawful stoning and the guilty party walked away free) But the society of ancient Israel is not 21st century Britain or America. If you want to claim OT sanction for the execution of murderers and rapists, you have to explain why it is that the penalty does not extend to, for example, those who curse their father or mother, adulterers and blasphemers, or why it is only the rape of virgins engaged to be married which carries a capital sentence (Deuteronomy 22).Finally (for now) I don't believe that any system of justice is so perfect it can never make a mistake. In our media-driven age, it is too much to expect that jurors will judge guilt or innocence on the basis of the evidence presented to the court. That alone is reason enough for me.
Replies:
I, for one, really hope you're right.
And that isn't something you'll hear me say too often to you Josh!
;o)
Posted by Richard @ 04/30/2003 03:28 PM CST
It's worth noting that, unlike what some have suggested, change regarding capital punishment is quickly coming to America. Opinion polls are slowly but surely shifting toward opposing it, and trends suggest a majority will be opposed within the decade.
This progression can be seen in Illinois' ban on capital punishment and similar measures in other states.
Posted by Josh, "the site you mentioned" @ 04/30/2003 01:32 PM CST
The death penalty is a big problem for me. I just can't support state sanctioned killing within the legal system. It seems the height of contradiction for me - this is premeditated, clinical murder in the absence of any of the traditional mitigatory defences.
Posted by dan @ 04/30/2003 02:29 AM CST
I think the US is the only "developed" country that still has the death penalty.
I think the economic argument would actually be against the death penalty. It costs hugh sums of money to keep people on death row etc.
Posted by Swan @ 04/29/2003 09:09 PM CST
Correct.Murder was divided into capital and non-capital categories from 1892 to 1961.The first private members bill for abolishment was in 1914.In 1956 debate began about exemption of juveniles.
In 1966 Bill C-168 was passed, which limited capital murder offenses to the killing police and prison guards.In 1976 in a free vote bill C-84 was was passed abolishing the death penalty for all capital offenses.The military code was kept for some offenses such as treason until 1998.
The last execution in Canada was in 1962.We have had 6 Canadians in prison for first degree murder since 1962 have their sentences overturned because they were innocent.
That's probably more than you wanted to know. :^)
Posted by Bene Diction @ 04/29/2003 08:47 PM CST
Am I right, BD, that there's no death penalty in Canada?
Posted by Richard @ 04/29/2003 07:14 PM CST
I saw the issue raised over at The Gutless Pacifist, and the discussion over at the site you mentioned.
I agree with you. I'd far rather live in a country that recognizes the imperfectness of it's legal system, and that the mistake of the government taking a life is too high a cost. Legal systems can be far from just. If my government is going to err (a given!) I'd prefer they err with abolishment.
I also wonder if the economics of the death penalty factor into a US debate more than most of us are aware of.
Thank God believers do care, through the John Howard Society, The Elizabeth Fry Society, and Prison Fellowship.I don't think we'll see changes in US policy in our life time though.
Posted by Bene Diction @ 04/29/2003 05:39 PM CST
